Belgium v Italy betting tips: Azzurri favourites to reach semi-finals
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Belgium v Italy betting tips and preview
Belgium were involved in one of the most high-profile matches of the last 16 and that’s certainly the case in their quarter-final clash with Italy in Munich.
The Red Devils struggled to get past Portugal on Monday when key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne limped out of the 1-0 win with an ankle injury and they start Friday’s clash as 11/5 underdogs.
The Azzurri are 5/1 third favourites in the Euro 2020 winner odds following their 2-1 victory over Austria but let’s look at the odds and markets to help with our Belgium v Italy betting tips.
Match Odds
Sunday’s clash with defending champions Portugal failed to live up to its billing although Thorgan Hazard’s swerving winner was good enough to win any match.
Italy needed two goals in extra time from substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina but they were living on their nerves when Sasa Kalajdzic struck six minutes from the end – the first goal they had conceded in 1,168 minutes.
The Italians, now unbeaten in 31 games, are 11/8 favourites to reach the semi-finals and 9/1 to repeat their 2-0 victory against Belgium during the group stage of Euro 2016.
Staying a little longer🙌🏼🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/ewbwIjgGYW
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) June 27, 2021
With Italy conceding for the first time in 12 matches – albeit in extra time – they are 5/2 to win to nil against a team that needed to defend doggedly against the holders, who hit the post in the closing stages.
Italy top the scoring charts with nine goals after Sunday’s victory having finished goalless at the end of normal time.
These teams seem evenly matched so another draw at the end of normal time is available at 21/10 and 0-0 is priced at 6/1 while we go 5/4 on a goalless first half.
Talking Tactics
Italy breezed through the group stage with maximum points, just like Belgium, but they were truly tested at Wembley where Marko Arnautovic thought he had given Austria the lead with a header at the far post only for it to be ruled out for a marginal offside.
Roberto Mancini made two changes to the Italy side that had beaten Switzerland 3-0, with Marco Verratti coming in for two-goal hero Manuel Locatelli, and Francesco Acerbi replacing injured centre-back Giorgio Chiellini.
Martinez made a few changes for the win against Portugal and it remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard will be fit having been spotted clutching his hamstring at the end of the game.
With De Bruyne possibly missing, Leander Dendoncker is in the running to start in a holding midfield role, although he lacks the creativity of the Manchester City star.
Goalscorer Odds
Romelu Lukaku is 4/1 to win the Golden Boot, 7/2 favourite to break the deadlock and 13/8 to get on the scoresheet against a mean Italy defence.
Belgium may require another spectacular goal to get past Gianluigi Donnarumma so Thorgan Hazard is 14/1 to make the breakthrough or 13/2 just to repeat his heroics against Portugal.
Ciro Immobile has drifted to 20/1 in the Golden Boot winner odds after being substituted against Austria despite hitting the angle with a swerving shot from 25 yards.
The Lazio striker is 4/1 to open the scoring or 7/4 to find the net while Chiesa and Pessina are 9/2 respectively to breach Belgium’s defence, with Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Berardi priced at 10/3 and 16/5 in our Belgium v Italy betting tips.
Match Info
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
When: 20:00, Friday 2nd July
How to watch: TBC
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
